The 2026 NFL Draft is now under a month away, and we'll soon find out which mock drafts predicted picks correctly and which unexpected dominoes will — as happens every year — shake things up.
Until then, let the speculation continue.
ESPN's Matt Bowen on Tuesday weighed in on top draft prospects and which teams he believes would be their perfect fit. Specifically, he "came up with the 20 best player-to-team matches for Rounds 1 and 2," factoring in "player strengths and weaknesses, organizational needs, schemes and coaching staff tendencies."
Let's look at which college stars Bowen believes would fit well with NFC North teams, shall we?
He opined Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren would be a great fit for Minnesota, a spot he's been mocked to with the No. 18 pick a few times by league pundits. Bowen wrote:
McNeil-Warren is ideal for [Defensive Coordinator] Brian Flores' scheme, which focuses on creating chaos for opposing offenses with late movement and pressure. Flores and the Vikings played two-high coverage on 56.5% of opponent drop-backs last season, the second most in the league. McNeil-Warren has the explosive forward ability to drive on the ball from the deep half or a "quarters" alignment. And he has the range to track it deep.
Flores will also use his third-level defenders on pressure concepts; Minnesota's defensive back blitz rate of 15.1% ranked fourth highest last season. That lends well to McNeil-Warren's forward burst.
Coming in one pick ahead of the Vikings, Detroit could opt to grab Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor to bolster its offensive line.
With reports of Penei Sewell potentially moving to the left tackle and replacing Taylor Decker, the Lions could find their new right tackle in Proctor. His 2025 tape showed some lapses in pass protection, but he has the strength to shut down power rushers. His ability to displace defenders in the run game would also fit with Detroit's identity. And he's still just 20 years old with 40 starts under his belt.
The Bears are slated to pick at No. 25, and Bowen believes they'd be a fantastic fit for Missouri edge rusher Zion Young.
After signing three defensive tackles in free agency, the Bears can look to the edges of their front by taking Young to play opposite Montez Sweat. With his long frame, Young fits the profile of the defensive ends in Coordinator Dennis Allen's system.
Young has the play strength and tackling range to set the edges versus the run game, which would upgrade a defense that allowed 5.0 yards per carry last season (fourth most in the NFL). Young also has the physical traits to develop as a speed-to-power pass rusher; he had 6.5 sacks and 43 pressures in 2025.
Bowen did not name a perfect fit for the Packers, who aren't slated to pick until the second round (52nd overall) this year. To view all 20 of his player-team matches, click here.
NFL to help launch professional flag football league
Flag football continues to be on a rapid rise across the country, even being added as an official sport of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The NFL announced Monday it's partnering with TMRW sports to "develop and operate" a professional flag football league for both men and women. According to the press release, the new league "will launch with support from a broad and influential investor pool, including NFL clubs, established institutional and strategic investors, and current and former NFL players."
Driving the investment group supporting the launch of the league is a list of NFL legends and active players, including Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Steve Young and Larry Fitzgerald, as well as Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, Ryan Nece and Dhani Jones, and current players Arik Armstead, Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson. Together, they are investing in the league's future and helping to shape its long‑term vision as both stakeholders and ambassadors. In addition, a number of other prominent figures from the sports and entertainment world are also part of the investment group, including women's sports champions Billie Jean King, Ilana Kloss, Alex Morgan and Serena Williams.
"As the flag football movement continues its explosive global growth, a professional flag league completes the pathway for elite athletes to compete at every level of the game, from youth to high school and college, to the Olympic stage, and now professionally," said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent, Sr. "This is especially meaningful for girls and young women who are helping drive the sport's growth worldwide and who can now see their dreams in this game extend all the way to the professional level. Selecting TMRW Sports represents an important step in our long-term commitment to growing flag football and supporting the world-class athletes driving its momentum."
Read more here.
Brian O'Neill's high school jersey retired
Former high school teammates Brian O'Neill and Troy Reeder — who also teamed together with the Vikings during the 2023 offseason — returned to Wilmington, Delaware, this past weekend for Salesianum School's 78th Annual Senior Sports Banquet.
O'Neill and Reeder, who graduated from Salesianum in 2014, were featured as keynote speakers for the special evening, which recognized 132 senior athletes. The former teammates were also honored by their alma mater for their accomplishments at every level of football. O'Neill and Reeder's respective jersey numbers of 84 and 9 were retired during the ceremony, and their jerseys now hang in the school's gymnasium.
Salesianum's football team won the State Championship in 2013 with the help of the teammates who would go on to play in the NFL. Reeder was named First-Team All-State at linebacker and the Delaware Defensive Player of the Year that season after making 96 tackles (60 solo) with 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumbles recovered. As a running back, Reeder rushed for 1,154 yards and 18 touchdowns during the Sallies' title run.
O'Neill also played both ways. As a senior, he caught 33 passes for 614 yards and eight touchdowns offensively, in addition to recording 45 tackles, 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 13 passes defensed.
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